“A bend in the road is not the end of the road… unless you fail to make the turn.”

Helen Keller

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’ ” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Luke 18:1-8 NIV

Perseverance is a superpower. Spider-Man and Wolverine, my two favorite Marvel characters in my small collection of comic books, would agree with me. Spider-Man has a never-ending list of loses. He mourned the loss of his parents, uncle, Gwen, his best friend and many others. Even so, he did not give up using his enhanced abilities to help others and he kept fighting for good to prevail. Wolverine shows the difference between our beastly nature and our humanity. He has found himself in countless battles in several wars. He has also lost loved ones and lost his memory entirely. Even so, he picks himself up and tries to be the best version of himself that he can. Not without sarcasm and a temper, but no one’s perfect. Despite all their stories of hardships and triumphs, they continued to persevere through it all and live to fight another day.

Perseverance, according to Saint Augustine of Hippo, is also a God-given gift. In receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit during baptism, we hope we also receive the gift of perseverance.

But what does it mean to persevere?

In the parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8), Jesus wanted to give the disciples a lesson on perseverance. An overall view shows the widow never gave up despite her obstacles. Repeatedly, she gave her petition to the unrighteous judge until he heard her case. Like the widow, we must persevere in our faith. We will have discouragement and difficult times in our life. We will step in the shadows. We may despair and even be tempted to turn away from God.

We must persist in prayer and faith. God is our justice despite our injustices in life. We shall pursue a relationship with God and rely on Him. God is with us.

The Resilience of Perseverance

Perseverance is the commitment to continue on a chosen path despite hardships or setbacks. We learn to be resilient to whatever life throws at us. It doesn’t mean we won’t mourn, fear or cower, but it means that despite our weakness, we continue on. We press on with faith of God in our hearts.

Recognizing God’s Hand in the Journey

There was a particular time in my life when I felt utterly alone. I didn’t know what the future had in store for me, and I wallowed in fear. I felt lost and uncertain.  But I recognized that even if I felt alone, I knew I wasn’t. God loved me and guided me through the muck.  I couldn’t see God working for my good during the trials, but I held on to the idea that I was loved and not alone.

If we can recognize God’s hand in our lives, it can help provide a sense of purpose and clarity. By acknowledging the presence of a higher power, we can find strength in the belief that we are part of a greater plan, and that our perseverance is supported by divine guidance. My pain helped me to help others through their pain. My hope gave them hope and vice versa.

Embracing Perplexity and Burstiness

Life is filled with moments of perplexity, where we may find ourselves facing complex challenges that test our resolve. I wish I could say that I handled all my complex problems with perfection and grace, but I’d be lying. I’ve said and done hurtful things out of my anger and there were times when I was ashamed of how I reacted. But I have learned to look back at those times with self-care and grace instead of self-loathing. We are not perfect creatures and we all have done things which we have regretted. I’ve had to learn and grow and try to do better in my reactions in the future.

The power of perseverance has the opportunity to shine brightest in these times of complexities. We continue to follow the unpredictable ups and downs that shape our journey. I remind myself that “This too shall pass.” No matter the lows, we hope for better days ahead.

The Transformative Impact

When we commit to persevering through life’s trials and tribulations, we set in motion a transformative process. Each obstacle we overcome becomes a steppingstone in our journey.

I have seen some courageous women through the recovery tract at the Nashville Rescue Mission. Overcoming addictions or abuse is one of the toughest achievements I have witnessed. Perseverance and recognizing God’s hand in their recovery brought such transformation in their lives. It took time to heal, to rebuild, and to continue moving forward despite the temptation to fall back into old habits. I’ve met some of the bravest women there. Many women persevered and remained sober and/or found healthier and happier relationships.

The power of perseverance and the recognition of God’s hand guide us through long-term transformation. As we navigate the complexities of life, let us draw strength from the knowledge that our perseverance is not in vain, but rather an integral part of the greater narrative being compiled by the hand of God. Have faith, remain resilient, and create the steppingstones which lead to your victory.

What are your own experiences or thoughts on perseverance?

When has God’s hand been evident in your life?

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

Romans 5:3-5

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